17-18 Schedule

Kyle Ramos

As the 2017-18 season continues to draw nearer with many exciting encounters on the horizon, Kings.com is breaking down each division around the Association.

Take a closer look at what to watch for when Sacramento faces the Atlantic Division below.

The Boston Celtics were at the center of some of NBA’s most noteworthy events during the offseason - acquiring multi-time All-Star Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and signing free agent forward Gordon Hayward away from the Utah Jazz.

The addition of Irving and Hayward add even more potential to a team that was already contending in the Eastern Conference as the Celtics look to make another deep playoff run in 2017-18.

As for the regular season, Boston will see Sacramento twice after each team came away with a win in their matchups from the 2016-17 campaign.

In their final contest, Kings big man Willie Cauley-Stein produced one of the most exciting highlights of the season with a monster alley-oop slam that sent Golden 1 Center into a frenzy.

The Kings will now roll out their young core to see if they can top the new look Boston team once again in 2017-18.

Though Brooklyn has struggled to climb the standings in recent seasons, an active offseason has injected some fresh talent on the Nets roster - most notably bringing in D’Angelo Russell from the Los Angeles Lakers.

In addition to Russell, Brooklyn brought on new contributors in Allen Crabbe, DeMarre Carroll, and rookie Jarrett Allen.

The backcourt duo of Russell and Jeremy Lin is likely to make for an exciting matchup with Kings guards Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

One area of growing strength for New York is the development of its young froncourt tandem of Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez.

The two big men are on the rise after Porzingis showed continued improvement in his sophomore campaign, averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and two blocks per contest. Hernangomez turned in an impressive rookie season on top of that, being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

As for both of Sacramento’s encounters with New York next season, the primary focus will be on limiting the versatile Porzingis - a job that could be suitable for Willie Cauley-Stein, who possesses the physical attributes and defensive prowess necessary to try and slow Porzingis.

After securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the 76ers may have added one of their most crucial franchise cornerstones in rookie guard Markelle Fultz.

Though Philly’s top pick from the 2016 Draft class, Ben Simmons, did not suit up in 2016-17, his arrival will be something to look out for as well as he joins the likes of Fultz and Joel Embiid, who enjoyed a breakout rookie season last year.

As the third point guard taken in the 2017 NBA Draft, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox will have two chances to matchup against Fultz and the Sixers this season, allowing a prime opportunity for Fox to claim the title as the best rookie guard in his class.

These teams have split the season series for four consecutive years and both will be on the hunt to end that streak with a series sweep in 2017-18.

11/9/17 vs Philadelphia
12/19/18 @ Philadelphia

Though many teams throughout the Association brought in new faces, Toronto’s offseason consisted mostly of retaining key pieces by re-signing guard Kyle Lowry and forward Serge Ibaka.

By inking these two to extensions, the Raptors keep important pieces of their core (also featuring DeMar DeRozan) in place, while eyeing another strong showing in the NBA Playoffs come next April.

Sacramento has enjoyed some sustained success against their Canadian opponents in the past two seasons, winning four straight games against Toronto. The Kings will look to keep that streak alive in 2017-18 and should the purple and black emerge victorious in both contests, it would mark the longest winning streak against the Raptors in franchise history.

schedule-breakdown-atlantic-division

Schedule Breakdown: Atlantic Division

The 2017-18 season continues to draw closer and with many exciting encounters just on the horizon, Kings.com will be breaking down each division around the Association and take a closer look for what to watch for.

Following a thrilling first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics in the 2017 Playoffs, Chicago has retooled its roster heading into next season.

All-Star guard Jimmy Butler was dealt to Minnesota and now the Bulls look to build around the core of young guards Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn and sharpshooting big man rookie Lauri Markkanen.

The young talent is emerging on Chicago, but it will be interesting to see how Dwyane Wade performs as presumably the No. 1 scoring option as enters his 15th year in the Association.

Both matchups between Chicago and Sacramento should present opportunities for the young talents and the future Hall of Fame veterans from each squad to face off, in what could be fun-filled contests.

2017-18 matchups vs Bulls
12/1/17 @ Chicago
2/5/18 vs Chicago

Currently riding a streak of three-straight trips to the NBA Finals, the defending Eastern Conference champions continue to be one of the teams to beat in the NBA.

Even with this reputation, Sacramento managed to topple the Cavaliers in Cleveland last season in an exciting overtime contest, splitting the two-game season series.

The Cavaliers saw a shift in the composition of their team this offseason following a blockbuster trade that sent point guard Kyrie Irving to Boston - receiving crucial components Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder in return.

Thomas was one of the top scorers in all of the NBA last season, ranking third at 28.9 points per contest. His offensive ability along with the 3-and-D playstyle of Crowder bring a fresh look to a Cavs team that maintained its other core pieces in LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Tristan Thompson.

Thomas will take on his former Kings squad on two occasions in 2017-18, presenting an opportunity for rookie guard De’Aaron Fox to showcase his speed and defensive skills against Thomas, who is one of the more agile and crafty scorers in the game today.

2017-18 matchups vs Cavaliers
12/6/17 @ Cleveland
12/27/17 vs Cleveland

Much like the Kings in last year in downtown Sacramento, the Detroit Pistons will be opening up a new building this upcoming season in downtown Detroit.

With the new place, there will also be some new faces in Detroit - most notably Avery Bradley, who was acquired via trade with Boston.

Detroit’s roster also features several former Kings, including Anthony Tolliver, Langston Galloway, and Eric Moreland - all of whom could see significant minutes in head coach Stan Van Gundy’s rotation in the upcoming season.

In hopes of adding an additional scoring punch, the Pistons added rookie Luke Kennard who was one of the top offensive performers during his last season with the Duke Blue Devils. The one ACC player who outscored Kennard last season in college hoops was none other than Kings rookie and former North Carolina Tar Heel Justin Jackson, who will get his chance to renew the heated Duke-UNC rivalry over the course of the two game series.

Adding to the trend of overhauled rosters from this offseason, Indiana has hit the reset button after trading away star forward Paul George in exchange for new key franchise pieces in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Saboins.

The Pacers made additional under the radar moves, adding the returning Darren Collison after his three solid seasons in Sacramento, as well as Bojan Bogdanovic and rookies T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu.

Indiana’s main cornerstone is Myles Turner, who is quickly developing into one of the most versatile big men in the League. His skill set will be a strong test for the young Kings core of bigs, particularly rookie Harry Giles, who could parlay a strong showing against Turner into an early statement for his career.

The Kings held a four-game winning streak against the Pacers heading into last season but Indiana claimed both meetings against Sacramento in 2016-17. Each matchups went down to the wire – both being decided by six points or less and one requiring overtime. This could mean more close contests down the line as these squads are set for two more encounters in 2017-18.

Led by an early MVP candidate and developing young players, Milwaukee has begun to blossom as one of the up-and-coming powers in the Eastern Conference.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the aforementioned candidate for Most Valuable Player, has continued to make huge strides in his game, rapidly improving each season since entering the League in 2013.

His development, along with the rise of the youth around him (Malcolm Brogdon and Jabari Parker especially) has generated a lot of buzz for the Bucks as a team that could be contending for a run at the championship sooner rather than later.

Milwaukee and Antetokounmpo create a challenging opponent for the Kings, as Giannis’ versatility makes him difficult to game plan for. One matchup to watch in particular will be the battle of the sophomore guards Buddy Hield  and Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.

Both guards proved themselves to have bright futures at their positions, especially with the strong second half of the season Hield turned in. Now, with their rookie campaigns under their belts, these two rising stars will have two more opportunities to try and best each other and make their marks in the Association.

11/28/17 vs Milwaukee
12/2/17 @ Milwaukee

schedule-breakdown-central-division

Schedule Breakdown: Central Division

The Kings will open the 2017-18 campaign at home in Golden 1 Center on Wednesday, October 18 against the new-look Houston Rockets. Immediately after the opening contest, Sacramento will encounter its first road trip of the season with a three-game swing and trips to Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix. The first 33 games of the season will consist of 20 road games for Sactown, before a six-game homestand lasting from the end of 2017 into the beginning of 2018. This will be one of two stretches for Sacramento where they will have six consecutive home games at Golden 1 Center during the 2017-18 campaign.

Of the Kings 41 home games, a total of 17 will be featured on weekends with five Friday games, seven on Saturdays and five on Sundays. Key home dates include a nationally televised TNT tilt versus the New Orleans Pelicans on October 26, a meeting of top rookie point guards on ESPN against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 22, and a faceoff with the Nor Cal rival Golden State Warriors on ESPN on February 2.

Sacramento’s longest road trip will take place in January, with six road matchups in 12 days featuring stops in Memphis, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, San Antonio, and New Orleans. The Kings will have three additional road trips consisting of four games, as well. In total for all 41 road games, the Kings will be traveling approximately 49,159 miles.

Sactown's schedule contains 16 back-to-backs - two of which will be at home. Additionally, all NBA teams will no longer have any instances of four games in five nights on their schedules for the first time in League history.

The Kings will be featured on national television 12 times throughout the course of the 2017-18 campaign including once on TNT, three times on ESPN and eight occasions on NBA TV.

To view a complete schedule, visit Kings.com/schedule.

inside-look-kings-2017-18-schedule

Inside Look: Kings 2017-18 Schedule

Nikki Nicholson

SACRAMENTO, CA - The Sacramento Kings will host MVP finalist James Harden, nine-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets in their season opener from Golden 1 Center on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m..

For most Kings games this season, tip-off will return to the traditional 7 p.m. start time. Basketball fans have an opportunity to access pre-paid parking spots, ride public transportation and download the dual-mode Kings + Golden 1 Center app to enhance the game-day experience with on-demand information regarding parking and more.

The Kings will be featured on national television 12 times during the 2017-18 campaign, highlighted by a TNT Sports broadcast from Golden 1 Center as Sacramento plays host to DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, Oct. 26. Lonzo Ball and the L.A. Lakers visit on Wednesday, Nov. 22 for the first of three ESPN telecasts originating from Sacramento. The other pair of ESPN matchups from Golden 1 Center include two-time MVP Stephen Curry and four-time scoring leader Kevin Durant as the 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors make the short trip down I-80 on Friday, Feb. 2, and a Pacific Division clash with the Portland Trail Blazers a week later on Friday, Feb. 9. Sacramento plays to a national audience on eight occasions delivered by NBA TV, showcasing home contests versus reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Nov. 7), Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves (Feb. 26) and an April Fools road installment with Ball and longtime rival Lakers (April 1).

Sacramento will play 20 of its first 33 contests on the road before returning to Golden 1 Center following the holidays. Marquee contests during this opening stanza include matchups against the Washington Wizards led by John Wall and Bradley Beal (Oct. 29), Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward and the Boston Celtics (Nov. 1), Philadelphia 76ers starring No. 1 draft selections Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons alongside Joel Embiid (Nov. 9), at Golden State Warriors (Nov. 27), a visit to face 4-time NBA MVP and 13-time All-Star LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 6), a rematch with Cousins and Davis in the Big Easy (Dec. 8) and perennial title-contending San Antonio Spurs led by MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and veteran addition Rudy Gay (Dec. 23).

The Kings usher in 2018 with a season-long six games at Golden 1 Center highlighted by dates versus the Cavaliers (Dec. 27), Memphis Grizzlies (Dec. 31), Denver Nuggets (Jan. 6) and Spurs (Jan. 8) before three consecutive games against Los Angeles teams (at Lakers on Jan. 9, home versus the Clippers on Jan. 11 and at the Clippers on Jan. 13) and a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at Oklahoma City (Jan. 15) caps the first half schedule. A 12-day, six-game sojourn to the east coast with notable layovers in Memphis (Jan. 19), Miami (Jan. 25) and New Orleans (Jan. 30) yields to a quartet at Golden 1 Center with a home and home back-to-back set with the Warriors (Feb. 2) and Dallas Mavericks (Feb. 3) proceeded by visits from the Chicago Bulls (Feb. 5) and Pacific Division rival Portland Trail Blazers (Feb. 9). The docket goes dark for the annual All-Star break following a quick three-game road trip punctuated by a Texas two-step at Dallas (Feb. 13) and Houston (Feb. 14).

Sacramento winds down the regular season with a home heavy calendar during the spring months, playing 16 of its remaining 25 contests at Golden 1 Center. Westbrook and Paul George tip-off the post break slate in their second visit (Feb. 22), marking the first of eight home games from Feb. 22—Mar.9, interrupted only by a road contest at Portland (Feb. 27). Keynote matchups include the Lakers (Feb. 24), Pelicans (Mar. 7), at Warriors (Mar. 16), Celtics (Mar. 25) and the regular season’s final meeting versus Golden State (Mar. 31). A four-game trip culminating in San Antonio concludes the road portion of Sacramento’s campaign before returning home, where the regular season ends just as it began with the Kings hosting Houston (April 11).

Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public in September. In the meantime, fans can sign up for access to an exclusive presale and win an opportunity to sit courtside by visiting Kings.com/Presale. Additionally, fans can secure seats now by committing to one of several exciting ticket plans featuring this season’s biggest matchups starting at just 10 games. More information is available at Kings.com/TicketPlans.

With today’s schedule announcement, the Kings also released an all-new ticket option that allows fans a standing room only pass for all 43 games at Golden 1 Center. The Standing Room Season Pass is $15 per game and limited plans are available now at Kings.com/StandingRoomSeasonPass.

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE SACRAMENTO KINGS 2017-18 SCHEDULE

17‑18 Schedule

Schedule Breakdown: Atlantic Division

Schedule Breakdown: Central Division

Inside Look: Kings 2017-18 Schedule

Kings to Open 2017-18 Season at Golden 1 Center Against Houston Rockets on Oct. 18